US3863196A - Acoustically activated proximity sensor switch - Google Patents
Acoustically activated proximity sensor switch Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US3863196A US3863196A US222182*A US22218272A US3863196A US 3863196 A US3863196 A US 3863196A US 22218272 A US22218272 A US 22218272A US 3863196 A US3863196 A US 3863196A
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- Prior art keywords
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- ultrasonic
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- Expired - Lifetime
Links
- 238000011010 flushing procedure Methods 0.000 claims description 17
- 238000001514 detection method Methods 0.000 claims description 5
- 230000002401 inhibitory effect Effects 0.000 claims description 2
- 230000004044 response Effects 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000003990 capacitor Substances 0.000 description 8
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 8
- 230000003111 delayed effect Effects 0.000 description 7
- 230000003252 repetitive effect Effects 0.000 description 5
- 238000002592 echocardiography Methods 0.000 description 3
- 230000005540 biological transmission Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000004353 relayed correlation spectroscopy Methods 0.000 description 2
- 229920006395 saturated elastomer Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 241000969130 Atthis Species 0.000 description 1
- 230000009471 action Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000004913 activation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000008878 coupling Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000010168 coupling process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000005859 coupling reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000008034 disappearance Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000007599 discharging Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000000977 initiatory effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000010354 integration Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000005259 measurement Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000003287 optical effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000001360 synchronised effect Effects 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01S—RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES
- G01S15/00—Systems using the reflection or reradiation of acoustic waves, e.g. sonar systems
- G01S15/02—Systems using the reflection or reradiation of acoustic waves, e.g. sonar systems using reflection of acoustic waves
- G01S15/04—Systems determining presence of a target
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10S367/00—Communications, electrical: acoustic wave systems and devices
- Y10S367/901—Noise or unwanted signal reduction in nonseismic receiving system
Definitions
- This invention relates to proximity sensor switches activated by the presence of a target within a predetermined zone, and more particularly to means for selectively detecting the presence of a human or other form.
- proximity sensors There are many proximity sensors; however, in the past they have not been very selective. For example, a capacitive bridge detector merely detects movement of an object in a field. It cannot discriminate between various moving objects; nor can it detect completely stationary objects. Likewise, most optic sensors merely detect when a beam of light is either cut or reflected, and it is not important how or why the beam is cut or reflected. Thus, these prior proximity sensors cannot distinguish between a target person and a stream of pedestrian traffic. Accordingly, there is a need for a selective,-proximity sensor which is able to respond only to a predetermined target which remains in a predetermined spot or area for a predetermined period of time.
- a selective proximity sensor may be used as a positive identification means.
- This application discloses an automatic flushing valve for urinals in public rest-rooms; although, many other uses exist.
- one target might be a human form which remains for a predetermined time in a particular spot, such as approaching or standing in a doorway. If the human is also wearing an optical target, there can be a double identification.
- the selective sensor may be tied into still other identifiers, such as key or combination locks on a door. Thus, an almost foolproof identification of persons may be accomplished.
- an object of this invention is to utilize acoustic signals for selectively detecting the presence of a predetermined target in a predetermined zone for a predetermined time period.
- a still further object of this invention is to determine the distance between the target and the transducers responsive to the elapsed time between the initiation of an ultrasonic signal and its detection'by an ultrasonic receiving transducer, after the signal is reflected by a target located in the path of the sound waves.
- Yet another object of this invention is to detect the presence of a target in a specified region responsive to a measurement of the elapsed time between the transmission of an ultrasonic signal and the receipt of the signal after it is reflected from a target. Another object is to recognize the presence of the predetermined target in the specified zone for a predetermined period of time. Still another object is to actuate an auxiliary device immediately upon the removal of the target from the zone of recognition, after satisfying the requirement of the targets presence in the zone for the prescribed time period.
- the presence of the target is recognized by a target interception of an acoustic signal which is sent from a directional electroacoustic transducer to the target zone and region.
- a preferred form of the invention employs an ultrasonic directional transmitter and a directional ultrasonic receiver, arranged side by side with their normal axes directed toward a zone or region within which the target is to be detected.
- the invention is not limited to this use of separate receiving and transmitting transducers. It may also use a single transducer acting both as a receiver and a transmitter, controlled by an appropriate transmit-receive switching device.
- short bursts of ultrasonic frequency are repeatedly transmitted to the zone or region of interest.
- a receiving transducer with its associated electronic circuitry. detects the reflection of the tone burst signals, from the surface of a target, if the target is then within the specifled zone or region.
- the received ultrasonic tone burst echoes are electronically processed to produce a steady state dc voltage that indicates the presence of a target in the specified zone.
- This d-c voltage is then processed in logic circuitry that gives an output signal which indicates that a target is present. Further electronic processing is then utilized to recognize the continued presence of the target within the specified zone or region for a predetermined period of time of, for example, a few seconds.
- the logic circuitry delivers a function voltage immediately upon the removal of the target from the prescribed region in which it was recognized.
- the function voltage is then utilized to accomplish any desired operation such as, for example, to activate the solenoid of an electronically activated flushing valve, or for operat ing any other device.
- the inventive system can be adjusted, if desired, to tolerate repetitive passages of targets through the target zone or region. For example, a continuous stream of moving pedestrian traffic may pass through the target zone without a delivery of the end function voltage.
- FIG. 1 is a schematic and block diagram illustrating one embodiment of the invention in which separate directional ultrasonic transmitter and receiver transducers are utilized to detect the presence of a target in a specified zone or region of interest and to ignore targets outside the specified zone;
- FIG. 2 is a timing diagram which graphically illustrates a sequential series of signals generated throughout the system of FIG. 1;
- FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of another embodiment of the invention in which multiple sets of ultrasonic transducers are operated under control of a common circuit for separately indicating the presence of targets which may appear within a plurality of different specified zones or regions, each zone being associated with one pair of ultrasonic transducers; and
- FIG. 4 schematically illustrates how the system may use a transmitting and receiving transducer which are one and the same.
- FIG. 1 shows various elements 11 to 33 which are employed in one embodiment of the inventive system.
- FIG. 1 also includes means for the recognition of a continued presence of a target in the zone or region of interest for a specified period of time. After the system has met a pre-established time related recognition threshold requirement. a function voltage is generated immediately upon the removal of the target from the zone. This voltage is utilized to control a desired function such as, for example, the illustrated operation of a flushing valve.
- FIG. 2 The time relationships of the various electrical signals that appear in FIG. 1, are shown on the timing diagrams in FIG. 2. These signals represent the functions of target recognition within the prescribed zone or region, the continued presence of the target within the zone for a specified period of time, and the final activation of an end function, such as the operation ofa flushing valve as illustrated in FIG. 1.
- a transmitting, directional, ultrasonic transducer 11 is located with its major radiating axis pointed toward approximately the center of the target zone 12.
- a receiving, directional, ultrasonic transducer 13 is located close to transducer 11, with its major radiating axis also pointed toward the approximate center of the target zone or region.
- the system is controlled from a free-running, repetition rate, trigger generator 17 which acts as a system clock pulse source.
- the clock pulse generator 17 may include any suitable oscillator, such as a unijunction transistor circuit (not shown) controlled by an R-C network.
- Generator l7 cyclically delivers pulses that control transmission of short bursts of ultrasonic power. Preferably, each burst has a duration in the order of two milliseconds, for example. These repetitive narrow pulses recur at a rate of about pulses per second (FIG. 2,A).
- the output of the generator 17 is applied to a transmit monostable circuit 16, of any suitable design, which is used as a pulse stretcher, providing a pulse width of two milliseconds (FIG. 2,B).
- the transmit monostable circuit 16 controls a burst gate switch which turns on for a predetermined period of time. During this time, an ultrasonic power source 14 sends a burst of ultrasonic energy to the directional transducer 11 (FIG. 2,C).
- the clock or trigger pulses from generator 17 also trigger a delay monostable circuit 18, in which each of the trigger pulses is stretched to have a width of about four milliseconds as illustrated in FIG. 2,D.
- the trailing edges of these four millisecond pulses are differentiated by a conventional differentiator circuit 19.
- the result is a generation of narrow trigger pulses which are delayed from the first trigger pulse by four milliseconds (FIG. 2,E).
- the delayed trigger pulse triggers a receiver turn-on monostable circuit 20 (FIG. 2,F) which, in turn, stretches the delayed trigger pulse out to a width of four milliseconds.
- a voltage pulse is applied through an isolating inductor L1 to the base electrode of an NPN transistor T1, which is connected in an emitter follower configuration.
- a zener diode Z1 is connected to bias the emitter of the transistor, as shown in the receiver gate switch 21 (FIG. 1).
- the voltage of the bias supplied through the zener diode Z1 is chosen to match that of the delayed pulse applied through the inductor Ll.
- the receiver gate switch 21 is also controlled responsive to the ultrasonic energy received by the transducer 13. More specifically, energy transmitted by the transducer 11 is reflected from a target in zone 12 to the receiver transducer 13. As a result, a signal is applied through a receiving amplifier 22 to a coupling capacitor C1.
- the ultrasonic energy may appear at the output of the receiver gate switch 21 only during the presence of the delayed pulse from circuit 20.
- the monostable circuit 20 provides a time window of acceptance (FIG. 2,F) during which reflected ultrasonic energy (FIG. 2,H) may be detected.
- F time window of acceptance
- F reflected ultrasonic energy
- T1 base of the emitter follower
- the output of receiving amplifier 22 is hard clipped. Both the emitter bias of the receiver gate switch, transistor T1, and the delayed pulse voltage (FIG. 2,F), are chosen to match the hard clipping level. Thus, it is impossible to get false gating action responsive to very strong echo bursts, indicated as cross talk and other echos in FIG. 2,G.
- the pulses out of circuit 21 resulting from the reflections of ultrasonic energy from the target zone [2 occur at the system's repetition rate, which, in this example, is 10 pps. These pulses are applied to a peak detector circuit 23, which is ofa conventional type. These pulses are stored and stretched into a steady d-c voltage by the peak detector circuit 23. This d-c voltage out of circuit 23, called the "ready voltage", appears as a result of a reflection from a target within the target zone. The ready voltage is applied to both the input of a transistor inverter 24 and the input of a delay integrator 26.
- the transistor T2 in the inverter 24 saturates responsive to the ready voltage, and its collector voltage is at ground or zero voltage, thus cutting off a transistor T3 in the S1 switch circuit 27.
- transistor T3 turns off, its collector voltage rises, driving the transistor T4 in the d-c power amplifier 29 into saturation.
- the ground or zero voltage at the output of the inverter 24 cuts off a transistor T5 in a delay reset circuit 25.
- transistor T5 turns off, a low resistor bridging circuit R1 is removed from shunting a capacitor C2 in a delay integrator circuit 26. As a result, the integrator circuit 26 begins to conduct, for forward integration.
- the output of the d-c power amplifier 29 becomes a ground or zero voltage, when transistor T4 turns on. Ground is applied, via contacts K4, K5 of relay 32, to the base of a transistor T6 in a d-c amplifier 31. Thus, the transistor T6 in the d-c power amplifier 31 is at cut off to prevent operation of relay 32.
- the ready voltage is applied to the input of the inverter 24
- the same voltage is applied to the input of the delay integrator circuit 26.
- the capacitor C2 charges and the voltage at the integrator 26 output drives into the base of the transistor T7, in S2 switch 28, which goes into a saturated condition. In effect, there is a closed switch S2 extending from the collector to the emitter of the transistor T7.
- the base of the transistor T5 in delay reset circuit is also driven into saturation by inverter circuit 24.
- the output voltage of the S1 switch in circuit 27 also falls to zero.
- a low value bridging resistance R1 is connected in parallel across the integrating capacitor C2 in the delay integrator 26.
- switch S2 While the integrator capacitor C2, in delay integrator 26, is discharging, switch S2 (transistor T7), remains on for a time period which is long enough to allow the ground or zero voltage output of switch S1 (transistor T3) to cut off the d-c power amplifier 29. In turn, the d-c power amplifier 31 turns on and thereby energizes the coil K of relay 32.
- contacts K1 and K3 close to place a holding circuit across the switch S2 (by shunting the transistor T7).
- Contacts K4 and K5 open and remove a bridging circuit across a differentiator circuit 30.
- Contacts K7 and K9 close to complete a power circuit across a flushing valve 33, causing the desired operation.
- the time constant of the differentiator circuit is chosen so that the base drive to the d-c power amplifier 31 decays during a few seconds.
- the relay 32 releases, and the relay contacts return to their normal position.
- the differentiator capacitor C3 discharges quickly via the contacts, K4 and K5.
- An opening of contacts K1 and K3 removes the bridging circuit from switch S2.
- the contacts K7 and K9 open to remove power from the flushing valve, thereby terminating the functional operation.
- FIG. 2 shows successive pulses from the receiver gate switch 21; Each pulse results from a coincidence of an acceptance time window and an echo signal. As long as the target isstationary, each successive pulse merely recharges a capacitor in circuit 23, with no immediate effect (FIG. 2,.l). If the target leaves the zone, at time 40, the sonic echoes disappear causing thepulses to stop (FIG. 2,I) their passage through circuit 21.
- a master unit 102 includes a single ultrasonic power source 14, which simultaneously supplies ultrasonic power to a group of N stations 10].
- a common d-c power supply 103 is utilized for supplying power to the flushing device at each of the N stations.
- each of the transmit transducers 11A, 11B; UN is simultaneously pulsed in unison from the common ultrasonic power source 14.
- the receiver turn-on gate switch 21 at each station selects the timing window for identifying the target in the zone 12 for each individually associated one of the stations, as was described in connection with FIG. 1.
- the multi-station operation is thereby achieved by employing at each of the stations only a transmitting transducer, such as shown at 11A, a receiving transducer, such as shown at 13A, and the receiving and logic circuitry, such as shown at 2lA-22A.
- a considerable economy in cost is achieved by the common control use of some of the major operational components identified as the master unit 102.
- the system' may use the same electroacoustic transducer 200 as a transmitting or a receiving transducer.
- the transducer 200 is connected through a switching circuit.
- the switching circuit comprises means 201 for sequentially connecting a circuit at 203, 204 to the transmitting logic l4 and to the receiving logic 22 at 205.
- the circuits connected before and after the logic circuits l4 and 22 are as shown in FIG. I.
- the switch 201 and logic circuitry are synchronized by the system clock 17 acting through circuits 206, 208.
- transducer 200 acts as a transmitter, sending sound 210.
- the switch 203, 205 is closed, it acts as a receiving transducer, accepting reflected sound 211.
- Block diagram representations have been used for the electronic functions throughout the descriptions of the various illustrative embodiments of this invention because the various electronic functions represented by the block diagrams utilize conventional circuitry well known to those skilled in the art. Other well known specific circuit details may be used for performing the individual functions illustrated by the block diagrams.
- the invention is related to the basic systems, which have been described, for achieving a unique acoustically controlled proximity switch, which only detects the presence ofa target when it appears within a predefined target zone and operates upon an identification of the targets continued presence in the zone.
- a sonically operated urinal flushing system comprising means for sonically detecting a sonic energy reflecting target in a predetermined zone, means for measuring a predetermined time period after said detection of said target in said zone, means for detecting the removal of said target from said zone. and means responsive jointly to said detection of the removal of said sonic energy reflecting target from said predetermined zone and to said time measuring means for flushing said system after said target has been in said zone for said predetermined time period.
Abstract
Description
Claims (3)
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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US222182*A US3863196A (en) | 1972-01-31 | 1972-01-31 | Acoustically activated proximity sensor switch |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US222182*A US3863196A (en) | 1972-01-31 | 1972-01-31 | Acoustically activated proximity sensor switch |
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US3863196A true US3863196A (en) | 1975-01-28 |
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US222182*A Expired - Lifetime US3863196A (en) | 1972-01-31 | 1972-01-31 | Acoustically activated proximity sensor switch |
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Cited By (33)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4126856A (en) * | 1977-04-18 | 1978-11-21 | Robert L. Gray | Scales annunciator |
US4141091A (en) * | 1976-12-10 | 1979-02-27 | Pulvari Charles F | Automated flush system |
US4213197A (en) * | 1978-04-13 | 1980-07-15 | Siemens Aktiengesellschaft | Circuit arrangement of an ultrasonic-presence motion detector, particularly for a non-contact control of a water faucet |
US4260980A (en) * | 1979-04-30 | 1981-04-07 | Bates Mitchell G | Blind spot detector for vehicles |
US4309781A (en) * | 1980-05-09 | 1982-01-12 | Sloan Valve Company | Automatic flushing system |
US4326273A (en) * | 1980-07-23 | 1982-04-20 | Hurst Performance, Inc. | Ultrasonic ranging device |
US4417278A (en) * | 1981-06-19 | 1983-11-22 | Hensleigh Robert H | Television receiver scrambling system |
US4471498A (en) * | 1981-01-10 | 1984-09-18 | Laycock Bros. Limited | Flush control |
US4598726A (en) * | 1981-03-26 | 1986-07-08 | Pepper Robert B | Ultrasonically operated water faucet |
US4624017A (en) * | 1983-12-20 | 1986-11-25 | Foletta John D | Automatic flushing system |
FR2583888A1 (en) * | 1985-06-25 | 1986-12-26 | Int Detection Protection | Device for the selective detection by ultrasound of the presence of an object in a given region |
US4667350A (en) * | 1984-05-25 | 1987-05-26 | Toto Ltd. | Lavatory hopper flushing apparatus |
US4670798A (en) * | 1983-10-28 | 1987-06-02 | Max L. Campbell | Point of purchase advertising system |
US4707867A (en) * | 1985-12-18 | 1987-11-24 | F.M. Valve Manufacturing Co., Ltd. | Toilet-flushing control apparatus |
US4823414A (en) * | 1986-01-22 | 1989-04-25 | Water-Matic Corporation | Automatic faucet-sink control system |
US4984314A (en) * | 1986-01-22 | 1991-01-15 | Water-Matic Corporation | Automatic fluid-flow control system |
DE4000698A1 (en) * | 1990-01-12 | 1991-07-18 | Hermesmeyer Alexander C Dipl I | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR DETECTING THE PRESENCE OF A VEHICLE BY MEANS OF AN ULTRASONIC DEVICE |
US5062453A (en) * | 1991-03-06 | 1991-11-05 | Zurn Industries, Inc. | On demand sensor flush valve |
US5133095A (en) * | 1990-08-31 | 1992-07-28 | Hoxan Corporation | Method of and system for supplying electric power to automatic water discharge apparatus |
US5144593A (en) * | 1990-11-05 | 1992-09-01 | Siemens Aktiengesellschaft | Integrated automatic control for ultrasonic proximity switches |
US5170514A (en) * | 1985-03-21 | 1992-12-15 | Water-Matic Corporation | Automatic fluid-flow control system |
US5251872A (en) * | 1991-07-02 | 1993-10-12 | Uro Denshi Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha | Automatic cleaner for male urinal |
US5313673A (en) * | 1993-03-19 | 1994-05-24 | Zurn Industries, Inc. | Electronic flush valve arrangement |
US5573041A (en) * | 1994-08-01 | 1996-11-12 | Electro-Pro, Inc. | Dispenser control with ultrasonic position detection |
US5696489A (en) * | 1996-01-11 | 1997-12-09 | Lockheed Martin Energy Systems, Inc. | Wireless boundary monitor system and method |
US6002427A (en) * | 1997-09-15 | 1999-12-14 | Kipust; Alan J. | Security system with proximity sensing for an electronic device |
US6299127B1 (en) | 2000-06-23 | 2001-10-09 | Sloan Valve Company | Solenoid valve piston |
US20040221899A1 (en) * | 2001-12-04 | 2004-11-11 | Parsons Natan E. | Electronic faucets for long-term operation |
US20050199842A1 (en) * | 2002-06-24 | 2005-09-15 | Parsons Natan E. | Automated water delivery systems with feedback control |
US20070272019A1 (en) * | 2006-04-12 | 2007-11-29 | Sensotech, Inc. | Method and System for Short-Range Ultrasonic Location Sensing |
WO2017025642A2 (en) * | 2015-08-13 | 2017-02-16 | Leonardo Mw Ltd. | Monitoring systems and methods |
US9695579B2 (en) | 2011-03-15 | 2017-07-04 | Sloan Valve Company | Automatic faucets |
US10508423B2 (en) | 2011-03-15 | 2019-12-17 | Sloan Valve Company | Automatic faucets |
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US3017832A (en) * | 1950-12-13 | 1962-01-23 | Waldron S Macdonald | Echo firing device for a depth charge |
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-
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- 1972-01-31 US US222182*A patent/US3863196A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Patent Citations (4)
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US3017832A (en) * | 1950-12-13 | 1962-01-23 | Waldron S Macdonald | Echo firing device for a depth charge |
US3283292A (en) * | 1963-03-02 | 1966-11-01 | Ultra Electronics Ltd | Ultrasonic position sensing equipment |
US3675190A (en) * | 1965-03-31 | 1972-07-04 | Gen Signal Corp | Sonic presence detector system |
US3362009A (en) * | 1966-05-20 | 1968-01-02 | Lab For Electronics Inc | Sonic vehicle detector |
Cited By (44)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4141091A (en) * | 1976-12-10 | 1979-02-27 | Pulvari Charles F | Automated flush system |
US4126856A (en) * | 1977-04-18 | 1978-11-21 | Robert L. Gray | Scales annunciator |
US4213197A (en) * | 1978-04-13 | 1980-07-15 | Siemens Aktiengesellschaft | Circuit arrangement of an ultrasonic-presence motion detector, particularly for a non-contact control of a water faucet |
US4260980A (en) * | 1979-04-30 | 1981-04-07 | Bates Mitchell G | Blind spot detector for vehicles |
US4309781A (en) * | 1980-05-09 | 1982-01-12 | Sloan Valve Company | Automatic flushing system |
US4326273A (en) * | 1980-07-23 | 1982-04-20 | Hurst Performance, Inc. | Ultrasonic ranging device |
US4471498A (en) * | 1981-01-10 | 1984-09-18 | Laycock Bros. Limited | Flush control |
US4598726A (en) * | 1981-03-26 | 1986-07-08 | Pepper Robert B | Ultrasonically operated water faucet |
US4417278A (en) * | 1981-06-19 | 1983-11-22 | Hensleigh Robert H | Television receiver scrambling system |
US4670798A (en) * | 1983-10-28 | 1987-06-02 | Max L. Campbell | Point of purchase advertising system |
US4624017A (en) * | 1983-12-20 | 1986-11-25 | Foletta John D | Automatic flushing system |
US4667350A (en) * | 1984-05-25 | 1987-05-26 | Toto Ltd. | Lavatory hopper flushing apparatus |
US5170514A (en) * | 1985-03-21 | 1992-12-15 | Water-Matic Corporation | Automatic fluid-flow control system |
FR2583888A1 (en) * | 1985-06-25 | 1986-12-26 | Int Detection Protection | Device for the selective detection by ultrasound of the presence of an object in a given region |
US4707867A (en) * | 1985-12-18 | 1987-11-24 | F.M. Valve Manufacturing Co., Ltd. | Toilet-flushing control apparatus |
US4823414A (en) * | 1986-01-22 | 1989-04-25 | Water-Matic Corporation | Automatic faucet-sink control system |
US4984314A (en) * | 1986-01-22 | 1991-01-15 | Water-Matic Corporation | Automatic fluid-flow control system |
DE4000698A1 (en) * | 1990-01-12 | 1991-07-18 | Hermesmeyer Alexander C Dipl I | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR DETECTING THE PRESENCE OF A VEHICLE BY MEANS OF AN ULTRASONIC DEVICE |
US5133095A (en) * | 1990-08-31 | 1992-07-28 | Hoxan Corporation | Method of and system for supplying electric power to automatic water discharge apparatus |
US5144593A (en) * | 1990-11-05 | 1992-09-01 | Siemens Aktiengesellschaft | Integrated automatic control for ultrasonic proximity switches |
US5062453A (en) * | 1991-03-06 | 1991-11-05 | Zurn Industries, Inc. | On demand sensor flush valve |
US5251872A (en) * | 1991-07-02 | 1993-10-12 | Uro Denshi Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha | Automatic cleaner for male urinal |
US5313673A (en) * | 1993-03-19 | 1994-05-24 | Zurn Industries, Inc. | Electronic flush valve arrangement |
US5573041A (en) * | 1994-08-01 | 1996-11-12 | Electro-Pro, Inc. | Dispenser control with ultrasonic position detection |
US5696489A (en) * | 1996-01-11 | 1997-12-09 | Lockheed Martin Energy Systems, Inc. | Wireless boundary monitor system and method |
US6002427A (en) * | 1997-09-15 | 1999-12-14 | Kipust; Alan J. | Security system with proximity sensing for an electronic device |
US6299127B1 (en) | 2000-06-23 | 2001-10-09 | Sloan Valve Company | Solenoid valve piston |
US7690623B2 (en) | 2001-12-04 | 2010-04-06 | Arichell Technologies Inc. | Electronic faucets for long-term operation |
US20040221899A1 (en) * | 2001-12-04 | 2004-11-11 | Parsons Natan E. | Electronic faucets for long-term operation |
US7069941B2 (en) | 2001-12-04 | 2006-07-04 | Arichell Technologies Inc. | Electronic faucets for long-term operation |
US8496025B2 (en) | 2001-12-04 | 2013-07-30 | Sloan Valve Company | Electronic faucets for long-term operation |
US20070063158A1 (en) * | 2001-12-04 | 2007-03-22 | Parsons Natan E | Electronic faucets for long-term operation |
US20100269923A1 (en) * | 2001-12-04 | 2010-10-28 | Parsons Natan E | Electronic faucets for long-term operation |
US20050199842A1 (en) * | 2002-06-24 | 2005-09-15 | Parsons Natan E. | Automated water delivery systems with feedback control |
US20090179165A1 (en) * | 2002-06-24 | 2009-07-16 | Parsons Natan E | Automated water delivery systems with feedback control |
US7383721B2 (en) | 2002-06-24 | 2008-06-10 | Arichell Technologies Inc. | Leak Detector |
US20060202051A1 (en) * | 2002-06-24 | 2006-09-14 | Parsons Natan E | Communication system for multizone irrigation |
US9763393B2 (en) | 2002-06-24 | 2017-09-19 | Sloan Valve Company | Automated water delivery systems with feedback control |
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